House of Cards: Season 3 (2015)

During the first two seasons of House of Cards, Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Robin Wright) Underwood have succeeded in reaching their goal, the top when it comes to politics: The White House. In order to get there they have made many enemies and the rules didn’t seem to apply to them. After that successful climb to the top you are expectinga fall, but do these two political veterans manage to keep their position?(this review contains spoilers)

At the beginning of this season Frank has been president for a while. His popularity is relatively low, so he has to start searching for something which could make him immortal (in political terms). He finds it in the idea that every American should be able to get work, but without support of the senate that turns out to be a problematic plan. It wouldn’t be House of Cards though if Frank wouldn’t think of something to make it a reality.

Even though this third season might not immediately offers what you’d expect as a viewer (Underwood sneakily using everyone around him), the change of focus feels right. Now that he’s one of the most powerful people on earth all eyes are looking at Frank Underwood, meaning he has to be more careful. It isn’t as easy to keep playing the same games when everyone is planning to take your place or get you away from it. He’s at the top of the American political foodchain, but internationally he still has to prove himself against other sharks in the pond. One of them is Russian president Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen), who proves that he might be even better at the game Underwood is playing. Both men are prepared to go to extremes, even if that isn’t in their country’s best interest. The battle between egos is beautifully realized and is something that stays with you.

The show also has severable very memorable moments. In church Frank shows that he is even willing to fight God, spitting on a sculpture of Jesus. When God seems to responds there is a small moment in which you see that this tough man still knows fear. In the opening of the show he also shows that his family doesn’t mean anything to him by urinating on his father’s grave.

Several characters from previous seasons return. Doug Stamper has managed to survive his attack and quite a big part of the show is spent on showing his recovery, alcohol addiction and his obsession in finding Rachel Posner (for which he uses hacker Gavin Orsay), while being ignored by the White House. Doug lives for the Underwoods and when they seem to turn their back to him he is prepared to do anything in order to prove his relevance to them. Jackie Sharp also returns and has a politically important role, even though it is in a way that Frank doesn’t like. Season 3 also introduces new characters, like journalist Kate Baldwin and author Thomas Yates. Baldwin asks the difficult questions other journalists won’t and Yates gets access behind the scenes in the Underwoods inner sanctum in order to write a book. Even though he doesn’t get real answers to his questions he does manage to get a good idea about both Frank and Claire and their personal relationship.

As their common goal has disappeare that relationship is under pressure. The two predators have caught their prey and no longer seem to know what their next target should be. This results in them going against each other, proving who is the dominant one. The fact that they renew their vows doesn’t change a thing about that. The tension between the two has been realised very well and it’s a joy to see Robin Wright act and see the transformation her character goes through. Unfortunately this season answer the question what will happen between the couple, but does make you long for the moment that the fourth season is released.